WORLD’S TOP RICE EXPORTER THAILAND TO HELP GHANAIAN COMPANY EXPAND PADI PRODUCTION
By NAM NEWS NETWORK Jan 21st, 2010
ACCRA, Jan 21 (NNN-GNA) — Thailand, the world’s largest exporter of rice, is to support Ghana’s Irrigation Company of Upper East region (ICOUR) to expand padi production under the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes in the region (province).
A four-man investment delegation from Thailand, led by Vichai Sriprasert, the president and chief executive officer of leading Thai rice exporter Riceland International Ltd, has visited the region for first-hand information about the operations of the Tono and Vea Irrigation schemes.
ICOUR Managing Director Alhaji Issah Bukari told the delegation, which visited the Tono Irrigation facility in the Kassena-Nankana East district, that there were large tracts of land available for the cultivation of padi. He also said there was another vast area at Naga in the district and at Fumbisi in Builsa District, suitable for padi farming.
Alhaji Bukari said it was the government’s intention to make the country self-sufficient in rice within two to three years and it was willing to partner with organizations which could can help the authorities achieve this objective.
He said padi farmers lacked inputs such as tractors, combined harvesters and fertilizer, among other materials.
Vichai said a team of experts in padi production from Thailand would soon arrive in Ghana to support the farmers in undertaking large scale production of the crop. He assured padi farmers that not only would they increase their output but padi farming technology would be transferred to them to facilitate their farming activities.
He added that Ghana had vast tracts of land and water sources wchich could be exploited for padi production. He asked farmers to collaborate with the team of experts to enable Ghana to achieve its dream of becoming self-sufficient in rice.
Upper East Regional Director of Food and Agriculture Alhaji Abdul-Razaque Zebrim Salifu thanked the delegation for the visit and said that increasing rice production in the region would create employment for the youth and reduce poverty in the area.
The delegation, which also visited the Tono Reservoir, rice fields, silos, rice mills and farm inputs stores, was accompanied by Peter Mahama of the Office of the President and Emmanuel C. Akuna, the National Co-ordinator of the Youth in Agriculture Block Farming Programme. — NNN-GNA
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Saya berpendapat kita perlu belajar dari negara Thailand juga tentang cara-cara nak tingkatkan 'RICE SELF SUFFICIENCY' kepada 100%. Dari segi pertanian, Thailand jelas jauh lebih maju dalam penggunaan teknologi sehingga berupaya menjadi pengeluar padi terbesar di dunia! Yang saya lihat.....isu perosak dan penyakit padi adalah penghalang utama kejayaan '100 % rice self sufficiency' dan masalahnya agensi-agensi pertanian dilihat tidak mahu bekerjasama dalam membenteras masalah ini...masing-masing tidak mahu berkongsi untuk menangani masalah perosak dan penyakit ni...seolah-olah 'output' dari penyelidikan itu adalah milik jabatan dan tidak boleh didedahkan kepada umum mahupun sesama jabatan di dalam negeri / negara sendiri....kalau sikap seperti ini yang kita terapkan...saya yakin R&D kita tidak akan ke mana...dan tidak boleh pergi dengan lebih jauh...
ReplyDeleteSaya amat setuju dengan komen tuan. Pengalaman kami di Sabah, pegawai pegawai kerajaan masih tersekat dengan birokrasi dan terbenam dalam permesyuaratan yang tak habis habis hingga tidak ada masa untuk turun padang melihat sendiri dan memantau masalah on the ground.
ReplyDeleteDiharapkan industri beras Sabah boleh dikembangkan lagi. Negeri kita ini amat sesuai untuk pertanian, jika berusaha, saya yakin kita pasti boleh melakukannya.
ReplyDelete